Great morning

Morning had already begun when Venisa arrived at the Greymore Grand Exchange.

The towering iron gates opened before her as she walked toward the entrance with quiet confidence. She wore a tailored dark dress beneath a long coat, her posture straight and her expression composed.

She wasn't walking alone.

Four people followed several steps behind her.

The first was Edmund Vale, the GGE's senior administrator—a silver-haired man in his fifties who had served the Greymore family long before Venisa inherited the title. He carried a leather portfolio filled with contracts and financial reports. Quiet, precise, and notoriously difficult to impress, Edmund was the person Venisa trusted with the Exchange's most sensitive accounts.

Beside him walked Clara Bellmont, the head of operations. She was a sharp-eyed woman in her thirties who rarely smiled during business hours. Clara knew every department of the GGE, from its suppliers to its employees, and could remember a month's worth of figures without opening a ledger.

The third was Lucien Hart, the family's legal adviser. Young for his position but exceptionally composed, he carried several sealed documents beneath his arm. Lucien handled contracts, disputes, and negotiations that required the Greymore name behind them.

The last was Dorian Ashford, the GGE's security director.

Unlike the others, he wore no formal business coat. His dark uniform was fitted beneath a long overcoat, and his watchful eyes constantly moved across the street and the surrounding buildings. He rarely spoke unless necessary.

As Venisa reached the main doors, the four stopped behind her.

She looked up at the massive Greymore crest carved above the entrance.

"Edmund."

"Yes, Baroness?"

"The eastern accounts first."

He opened his portfolio. "Already prepared."

"Clara, I want the warehouse reports before noon."

"You'll have them."

"Lucien, the Montclair contract."

"Waiting for your signature."

Finally, she looked at Dorian. "And security?"

"Quiet this morning."

Venisa nodded. "Good. Let's keep it that way."

She turned toward the doors.

They opened immediately.

Venisa walked inside.

The four followed.

Heads turned throughout the grand lobby as the Baroness of Greymore entered the establishment her family had built.

She didn't slow down.

As Venisa crossed the main lobby, a young man hurried toward her.

He was perhaps in his mid-twenties, dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit with a neatly arranged tie. A slim folder rested beneath one arm, while several documents were held securely in his other hand.

This was Adrian Lorne, Venisa's personal secretary at the Greymore Grand Exchange.

Unlike Edmund's reserved formality or Clara's intimidating efficiency, Adrian was quick, attentive, and remarkably good at keeping up with Venisa's demanding schedule.

He stopped before her and bowed slightly.

"Good morning, Baroness."

"Good morning, Adrian."

He immediately opened his folder.

"I have the morning updates."

Venisa continued walking.

"Go ahead."

"The western suppliers confirmed their deliveries. The third warehouse has completed its inventory, and the accounts department has already corrected the discrepancy from yesterday."

Venisa nodded. "And the negotiations with the Valcrest merchants?"

"They requested another meeting."

"Schedule it for tomorrow afternoon."

"Already done."

Venisa glanced at him.

Adrian smiled faintly.

"I assumed you'd say yes."

"You're becoming presumptuous."

"I prefer prepared."

Venisa almost smiled.

They continued toward her private office.

Then Adrian stopped. "There is one more thing."

Venisa looked back.

"A letter arrived for you this morning."

He carefully removed a sealed envelope from the folder.

"It was delivered personally. No courier seal, no business mark."

Venisa's eyes settled on the envelope.

"Who sent it?"

Adrian shook his head.

"That isn't indicated."

He handed it to her.

Venisa took the letter.

The moment she saw the seal, her expression changed.

Adrian noticed.

"Baroness?"

Venisa stared at the envelope for another second. "Nothing."

She slipped it into her hand.

"Bring me the rest of the reports."

"Yes, Baroness."

Adrian bowed and stepped away.

She entered her private office and closed the door behind her. The noise of the Greymore Grand Exchange immediately became distant, muffled by the thick wooden doors.

Her office was spacious but orderly, lined with shelves of ledgers, contracts, and records accumulated by generations of Greymores. A large window overlooked the busy street below, where merchants and carriages were already beginning to gather around the Exchange.

Venisa placed her gloves on the desk before taking out the envelope, studying it carefully as she noticed there was no sender's name, no crest, and no indication of where it had come from, only a dark wax seal pressed into the back. With a slight frown, she broke the seal and unfolded the paper inside, her eyes moving across the first line until they suddenly stopped.

For several seconds, she remained completely still, reading the words again as a subtle change passed through her composed expression. Whatever she had expected from the mysterious letter, this was not it.

"Interesting," she murmured,

Venisa's eyes returned to the signature at the bottom of the letter.

De Valcárcel.

A small smile touched her lips.

So, it had finally come.

She had known something like this was coming. Perhaps not today, and certainly not this soon, but she had expected the day when the old noble houses would begin making their intentions known.

She leaned back in her chair, reading the name once more.

"De Valcárcel…"

Alejandro.

Her thoughts immediately went to the count she had met at the Montenorie gathering—the courteous Spanish nobleman who had openly admitted that he had been looking for her for some time.

Venisa let out a quiet breath.

"Too early."

She tapped the letter lightly against the desk.

For a moment, another possibility crossed her mind.

Her grandmother.

Donna Victoria had always been several steps ahead of everyone else. Even after her death, Venisa sometimes felt as though she were still discovering arrangements the old woman had quietly made.

Perhaps her grandmother had spoken to the De Valcárcel household long before Venisa ever knew Alejandro existed.

Perhaps this letter had been waiting for the right moment.

Or perhaps—

Venisa's smile faded slightly.

—her grandmother had been preparing something for her long before she ever became Baroness.

She looked down at the letter again.

"If you arranged this, Grandmother…"

A faint, amused smile returned. "You certainly didn't waste any time."

Suddenly, her phone rang, cutting through the quiet of the office. Venisa glanced at the screen and saw Tala's name flashing across it, making her sigh before she answered the call.

"What is it?"

Before Tala could respond, the office door suddenly opened and Adrian rushed inside, slightly breathless from hurrying down the corridor.

"Baroness—"

Venisa held up one finger, signaling him to wait while she continued listening to Tala.

Adrian looked apologetic but clearly had something urgent to say.

"Lord Montenorie is outside," he finally blurted out. "He says he wants to see you."

Venisa slowly closed her eyes.

Of course.

Of all mornings.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered under her breath, "Guys, give me a break."

On the phone, Tala went silent for a moment.

Then his voice came through.

"Who is there?"

Venisa opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

She was beginning to regret coming to work.